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Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom has congratulated South African scientists for developing the world's first digital laser which is being hailed as a major scientific breakthrough.

The discovery was unveiled on Tuesday at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. The new technology is expected to make an impact on sectors including health, communications and manufacturing.

Hanekom says: “We can as South African be immensely proud of the quality of research being done in our country. The kind of scientists we have in South Africa and the contribution we are making as a country to global knowledge and global advancements in moving towards a different kind of world.”

He adds, “The world that is technologically advanced; that is better able to address the everyday challenges that people face; Health challenges, communications challenges etc...”

Professor Andrew Forbes at CSIR says the digital laser can be used in various fields including communications, health and manufacturing.

Forbes elaborates says, “ It's called digital because we address it through our computer, and as we change the picture on our computer the light coming out of the laser also changes. And so is a digital laser because you only have to change an image and the light coming out immediately changes.”

He says, “What we have done is to take technology that's 50 years old turn it around its head, make it much simpler, much cheaper, much easier to use in health, possibly manufacturing, certainly telecommunications. These are obviously application areas.”